Optical sensor

A photodetector comprising:

• (K×M×N) photodiodes PDk,m,n (K being an integer of no less than 2;
• k being integers of no less than 1 and no more than K;
• M being an integer of no less than 1;
• m being integers of no less than 1 and no more than M;
• N being an integer of no less than 2;
• and n being integers of no less than 1 and no more than N), each generating an electric charge by an amount corresponding to an intensity of light incident thereon;
• (M×N) integrating circuits, one of each being provided in correspondence to K photodiodes PDk,m,n (k=1 to K) among the (K×M×N) photodiodes PDk,m,n and each successively inputting and accumulating the electric charges generated at the K photodiodes PDk,m,n (k=1 to K) and outputting a voltage that is in accordance with the amount of the accumulated electric charges;
• and
• (M×N) filter circuits, one of each being provided in correspondence to each of the (M×N) integrating circuits and each reducing the thermal noise component contained in the voltage output from the corresponding integrating circuit and outputting the voltage after reduction of the thermal noise component,
• wherein the (K×M×N) photodiodes PDk,m,n are arranged in M rows and (K×N) columns either two-dimensionally (when M=2) or one-dimensionally (when M=1), with each photodiode PDk,m,n being positioned at the position of the m-th row and (n+(k−1)N)-th column,
• switches SWk,m,n are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with respect to photodiodes PDk,m,n and are arranged between the photodiodes PDk,m,n and signal lines SLm,n,
• each set of K photodiodes PDk,m,n (k=1 to K) is connected via the corresponding switches SWk,m,n to a signal line SLm,n,
• each signal line SLm,n is connected to an input end of an integrating circuit, and
• switches SWk,m,n on the same row are connected to the same control line CLk,n and the opening/closing of each row of switches SWk,m,n is controlled together by a control signal that is transmitted via the control line CLk,n.